AS/COA's Christopher Sabatini writes in El Diario/LaPrensa that during Brazilian President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva’s White House visit he advocated for the continued flow of free trade to confront the global economic crisis, a stance removed from Lula’s political beginnings as a trade union leader. (en español)

"The United States must recognize the truism that our nation’s own security and economic strength is intrinsically tied to a stable and prosperous Mexico," writes the former ambassador to Mexico. Fully funding the Merida Initiative is a critical priority.

“We’re all in this together, and if we act in a coordinated and thoughtful manner, we’ll be able to get out of it together” writes COA Vice President Eric Farnsworth for Poder magazine. At this time of financial crisis, he suggests revitalizing the trade agenda to boost economies across the Americas.

Writing in the Financial Times, President and CEO of Citibank and AS/COA Chairman William R. Rhodes urges countries to reject protectionism and lend support to multilateral institutions in the face of "the most serious economic and financial crisis in [his] more than 50 years of banking." 

The "Buy American" provision in the stimulus plan fails to take into account the multinational, interconnected nature of many businesses today, writes Christopher Sabatini in an El Diario/La Prensa op-ed, and ultimately will hurt the very people it's supposed to help—U.S. workers.

Falling oil prices come at a bad time for Venezuela President Hugo Chávez, whose amendment to end term limits faces a referendum on February 15.

Washington and Madrid should sieze on the chance to collaborate on Latin America policy. "[W]ith foresight, nuance, creativity, and a little good fortune, this is an emerging partnership whose time may very well have come," writes Farnsworth.